Automatic veneer measuring and clipping control system

ABSTRACT

A veneer stack or bunch clipper electronically measures and clips a stack of veneer into sections of the proper width. A plurality of manually actuatable switches are provided each of which corresponds to a different panel width or to a different number of panel sections which are to be cut for assembly into a single panel of a standard width. When one of these switches is actuated, current flow through the switch and through a series of diodes into selected inputs of a buffer or other data storage device causes a record to be stored within the storage device of how wide the next cut section is to be. Automated conveying, measuring, and clipping mechanisms then measure and clip the stack in accordance with the stored record.

0 Umted States Patent 1 91 1111 3,774,750 Streckert Nov. 27, 1973 [54] AUTOMATIC VENEER MEASURING AND 3,564,595 2/l97l DeFlorio..................,......... 83/71 CLIPPING CONTROL SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Ernest H. Streckert, 609 North Rd., Primary hammer-chard Aegener Medford, wis AttorneyRichard D. Mason et a1.

1972 57 ABSTRACT [21] Appl- 223,211 A veneer stack or bunch slipper electronically mea- Rehted Application Data sures and clips a stack of veneer into sections of the [62] Division of Ser. No. 885,917, Dec. 17, 1969, Pat. No. P with plurahty actuatable 367064- switches are provided each of which corresponds to a difi'erent panel width or to a different number of panel 198/110 198/40 sections which are to be cut for assembly into a single 365g 21/12 panel of a standard width. When one of these switches 198/40 83/208 is actuated, current flow through the switch and 83/367 369 through a series of diodes into selected inputs of a buffer or other data storage device causes a record to References Cited be stored within the storage device of how wide the UNITED STATES PATENTS next cut section is to be. Automated conveying, measuring, and clipping mechanisms then measure and [22] Filed:

521 US. 51 int. [58] Field 0fSearch..............,.

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1972. Portions of US. Pat. No. 3,670,614 are incorpoter extending from column 2, line 60 to column 3, line 33 and from column 9, line 17 to column 11, line 63 present a complete description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are hereby incorporated by reference into this specification for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention system, and more particularly to a veneer bunch clipping system that includes autoniatic measuring and clipping-means.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Veneer is formed by slicing a thin layer of wood from the surface of a cylindrical wood section mounted in a rotary lathe type of structure. As the wood rotates, the surface of the wood is sliced off and unrolled in a manner analogous to the way in which paper is unrolled from a roll. The veneer strip is carried by conveyors to a clipper which cuts off, veneer sheets of convenient lengths, and the veneersheets are stacked. The stacks are then fed toa bunch clipper which clips the stacks into groups of strips of the proper length for assembly into standard size veneer panels.

The control circuits presently used to run veneer bunch or stack clippers are not automated. An employee advances the veneer stack a distance equal to the length of a standard size'panel divided by the number of veneer segments which are to make up the panel, and then manually'initiates a clip. This is a slow, unsafe, and time-consuming procedure, since the employee must manually reposition the stack before each clip. Additionally, a fairly skilled employee is required who can remember how far to movethe stack in order to produce strips of the proper length for assembly into a standard size panel (stops on the outfeed table are used as a guide).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION embodiment of the present invention comprises briefly a system to control the operation of a veneer bunch clipper and also the operation of a bunch clipper conveyor assembly. Sheets of veneer are stacked into bunches and are placed on a bunch clipper conveyor, which is controlled by the system. Each bunch is posi- 2 tioned by eye for the first bunch clip, and a clip, pushbutton is depressed to actuate the bunch clipper. A pushbutton corresponding'to the specified width of veneer strip is then depressed, and the system automatically advances the bunch the specified distance and cuts off a stack of strips having the specified width. Several arrays of pushbuttons are provided. A first array includes pushbuttons corresponding to each of the standard veneer panel widths. Second and third arrays include pushbuttons each of which corresponds to the number of strips which it is desired to include a single panel of standard size. A fourth array includes pushbuttons which, when depressed, move the bunch only a short distance forward or back and then clip. Finally, two pushbuttons are provided for cutting strips of nonstandard size. Each of these pushbuttons is located adjacent a set of digital thumb wheels which can be set to 20; The present invention relates to a veneer clipping specify the nonstandard length which is to be cut.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention are apparent in'the detailed description which follows, and the features of novelty which characterize-the invention are 'pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the specifica- I BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrametic representation of a veneer 1 productionline including the bunch clipper control system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A complete and concise description of the preferred embodiment of the invention is to be found in US. Pat. No. 3,670,614 which issued on June 20, 1972 to the present applicant and which is the parent of the present application. In particular, FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 of that application present the structural details of the present application. In addition, a description of the present invention is to be found extending from column 2, line 60 to column 3, line 33 and from column 9, line 17 to column 11, line 63 ofU.S. Pat. No. 3,670,614. The above occur to those who are skilled in the art. It is'therefore intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A control system for the conveyor associated with a veneer sheet bunch clipper, said control system comprising:

an array of switches each having first and second contacts and each corresponding to a distance which it is desired to move a veneer sheetbunch prior to clipping;

a data storage device having data inputs and outputs; a potential source connecting to a first contact of each switch; at least one diode connecting a second contact of each switch to selected data inputs of said-data storage device and oriented to permit current flow from said potential source into said data storage device when the corresponding switch is actuated, the number of diodes and the particular data inputs to which the diodes from each switch connect being chosen to present to the selected storage device inputs a pattern of electric signals that cause a number to be loaded into the storage device whenever a switch is actuated, the number being proportional to the distance which corresponds to the actuated switch; and

conveyor control means connected to said data storage device for advancing the conveyor a distance proportional to the number in said data storage device in response to the actuation of any switch.

2. A control system in accordance with claim 14 wherein manual reprogramming means are associated with the diode connections which allow the diode connections to be easily altered so that the number that is loaded into the data storage device in response to the actuation of any switch may be easily changed.

3. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said switches corresponds to a standard size of segmented veneer panel, and wherein this switch is labelled to indicate how many of the panels clipped from the veneer sheet bunch after actuation of this switch it will take to form a standard size veneer panel.

4. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a manually adjustable array of coding switches comprises the interconnections between at least one of said switches and said data inputs, whereby the distance corresponding to said switch can be altered by manual adjustment of said array of coding switches.

5. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the conveyor control means includes two inputs which, when supplied with a signal, respectively cause the conveyor to move in the forward or in the reverse direction, and further includes interconnections between each of said switches and one or the other of said inputs, whereby each switch, when energized, initiates movement of the conveyor in either the forward or the reverse direction, depending upon which of the inputs the switch is connected to. 

1. A control system for the conveyor associated with a veneer sheet bunch clipper, said control system comprising: an array of switches each having first and second contacts and each corresponding to a distance which it is desired to move a veneer sheet bunch prior to clipping; a data storage device having data inputs and outputs; a potential source connecting to a first contact of each switch; at least one diode connecting a second contact of each switch to selected data inputs of said data storage device and oriented to permit current flow from said potential source into said data storage device when the corresponding switch is actuated, the number of diodes and the particular data inputs to which the diodes from each switch connect being chosen to present to the selected storage device inputs a pattern of electrIc signals that cause a number to be loaded into the storage device whenever a switch is actuated, the number being proportional to the distance which corresponds to the actuated switch; and conveyor control means connected to said data storage device for advancing the conveyor a distance proportional to the number in said data storage device in response to the actuation of any switch.
 2. A control system in accordance with claim 14 wherein manual reprogramming means are associated with the diode connections which allow the diode connections to be easily altered so that the number that is loaded into the data storage device in response to the actuation of any switch may be easily changed.
 3. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of said switches corresponds to a standard size of segmented veneer panel, and wherein this switch is labelled to indicate how many of the panels clipped from the veneer sheet bunch after actuation of this switch it will take to form a standard size veneer panel.
 4. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein a manually adjustable array of coding switches comprises the interconnections between at least one of said switches and said data inputs, whereby the distance corresponding to said switch can be altered by manual adjustment of said array of coding switches.
 5. A control system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the conveyor control means includes two inputs which, when supplied with a signal, respectively cause the conveyor to move in the forward or in the reverse direction, and further includes interconnections between each of said switches and one or the other of said inputs, whereby each switch, when energized, initiates movement of the conveyor in either the forward or the reverse direction, depending upon which of the inputs the switch is connected to. 